Inflatable bag having light emitting device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an inflatable bag having a device for emitting light comprising bag means made of a plastic material being hollow, airtight; at least one light emitting assembly disposed in the bag means, each assembly having a body, at least one cell and one light emitting element (e.g., bulb or light emitting diode (LED)) both disposed on the body; and a first connecting member made of a plastic material having one end coupled to the light emitting assembly and the other end fixed to a first portion of the inner surface of the bag means, wherein the cell and the light emitting element are actuable to conduct and emit light by activating a switch while the bag means being inflated to a predetermined shape.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to inflatable plastic bags (e.g., balloons) and more particularly to such an inflatable plastic bag having an internal light emitting assembly capable of emitting light in the night or a dark environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventionally, a process of manufacturing an inflatable bag (or balloon) comprises forming a thin layer of plastic material on each of two molds, moving the molds toward each other until they are engaged, and heating periphery of the molds for sealing so as to form a hollow, airtight bag. Typically, the bag may be inflated either by a manual inflation technique or automatic one. At least one inlet is required to form on the bag if the manual inflation technique is taken. A user may fill air or a gas lighter than air such as helium into the bag via the inlet until a predetermined shape is formed. As to an automatically inflatable bag, it is a closed member without the provision of inlet(s). Instead, liquid chemical contained in an enclosure and chemical powder are filled therein. In use, the user may break the enclosure to let the liquid chemical out of the enclosure to react with the chemical powder. As a result, a gas lighter than air is automatically generated for inflating the bag to its predetermined shape.

[0003] Such bag, whether inflated manually or automatically, are conventionally used for the purpose of decoration, entertainment, or advertisement. Thus, it is often seen that specially designed patterns or characters are printed on the bag. Alternatively, for attracting the mass public bags are manufactured to have special shapes. However, there is no other significant purpose of the bag other than those described above. Moreover, the well known bags are only suitable in daylight or a bright environment rather than in the night or a dark environment. This is because the specially designed patterns or characters or the special shape of the bag cannot be clearly seen in the latter condition. As a result, the desired purpose of the bag is compromised.

[0004] Thus, among the inflatable bag (or balloon) designers and manufactures, it is desirable to provide an inflatable rub bag having an internal light emitting device capable of emitting light in the night or a dark environment for showing specially designed patterns or characters or special shapes printed thereon, thereby greatly increasing the effect of decoration, entertainment, or advertisement. Moreover, the light emitting device can be served as a means for issuing a life saving or emergency signal for help.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A primary object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable bag having a device for emitting light in a poor visible environment comprising bag means made of a plastic material being hollow, airtight; at least one light emitting assembly disposed in the bag means, each light emitting assembly including a body, at least one cell, and at least one light emitting element (e.g., bulb or light emitting diode (LED)) both disposed on the body; a switch; and a first connecting member made of a plastic material, the first connecting member having one end coupled to the light emitting assembly and the other end fixed to a first portion of the inner surface of the bag means, wherein the cell and the light emitting element are actuable to conduct by activating the switch during inflation of the bag means, and in response to the inflation of the bag means to a predetermined shape the light emitting assembly is supported by the first connecting member to suspend in about the center of the bag means with light emitted from the light emitting assembly. Another object of the present invention is to provide a press type switch or toggle switch. Prior to inflation of the bag means, a user can manually press or move the switch to electrically conduct the cell and the light emitting element. In response to a light emission from the light emitting element, the inflation of the bag means is performed. As a result, the light emitting assembly is supported by the first connecting member to suspend in about the center of the bag means while light is emitting.

[0006] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an insulation member made of plastic material having on end clamped by the cell and either contact and the other end fixed to a second portion of the inner surface of the bag means wherein the cell and the light emitting assembly are not electrically conducted due to the intermediate insulation member when the bag means is not inflated, and in response to an inflation to the predetermined shape of the bag means, one end of the insulation member is disengaged from the clamped position between the cell and either contact due to an outward pulling from the other end of the insulation member at the second portion of the inner surface of the bag means, thereby electrically conducted the cell and the light emitting element.

[0007] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a partially broken away view of a first preferred embodiment of an inflatable plastic bag according to the invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the light emitting assembly and the coupled connecting member shown in FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the light emitting assembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a partially broken away view of a second preferred embodiment of an inflatable plastic bag according to the invention where the bag is not inflated; and

[0012]FIG. 5 is a partially broken away view of the inflated bag shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an inflatable bag 10 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention. The bag 10 is made of plastic material and is hollow, airtight. The bag 10 comprises at least one light emitting assembly 20 including a body 21, at least one cell 22, and at least one light emitting element (e.g., bulb or LED) 23 both disposed on the body 21. The bag 10 is coupled to one end of a plastic connecting member 30. The other end of the connecting member 30 is fixed to a top inner surface 11 of the bag 10 by heating. The cell 22 and the light emitting element 23 will be electrically coupled together after air has been filled into the bag 10. After a predetermined shape of the bag 10 is formed by the inflated air, the light emitting assembly 20 will be supported by the connecting member 30 to suspend in about the center of the bag 10. Also, the light emitting element 23 can emit light.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 1 again, in the invention the plastic material for manufacturing the bag 10 is transparent. Also, specially designed characters or patterns (e.g., hearts as shown) 40 are formed on the bag 10 by printing and coating. The patterns 40 are transparent while other parts are opaque as formed by printing and/or coating. Hence, after the predetermined shape of the bag 10 has been formed by the inflated air, light emitted from the light emitting element 23 may pass through the transparent portions of the bag 10. As such, those specially designed characters or patterns 40 still can be clearly seen in the night or a dark environment. As an end, a desired purpose of the specially designed characters or patterns 40 is obtained.

[0015] A process of manufacturing the inflatable bag 10 of the invention is substantially the same as the prior art. In detail, the manufacturing process of the invention comprises moving two molds each with a thin layer of plastic material formed thereon toward each other until they are engaged, and heating periphery of the molds for sealing so as to form a hollow, airtight bag. Also, the bag 10 may be inflated either by a manual inflation technique or automatic one. Referring to FIG. 1 again, at least one inlet 12 is required to form on the bag 10 if the manual inflation technique is taken. A user may fill air or a gas lighter than air such as helium into the bag 10 via the inlet 12 until a predetermined shape of the bag 10 is formed. As to an automatically inflatable bag, it is a closed member without the provision of inlet(s). Instead, liquid chemical contained in an enclosure and chemical powder are filled therein. In use, the user may break the enclosure to let the liquid chemical out of the enclosure to react with the chemical powder. As a result, a gas lighter than air is automatically generated for inflating the bag 10 to its predetermined shape.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 2, the light emitting assembly 20 and the connecting member 30 in the first preferred embodiment of the invention are shown. A recess 211 is formed in the body 21 of the light emitting assembly 20. The recess 211 is shaped to fit the cell 22. The cell 22 is electrically coupled to the light emitting element 23 (e.g., bulb or LED) via two contacts 24 (one is shown) at the body 21 and an electric circuit (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, a switch 25 is provided on the electric circuit interconnecting the cell 22 and the light emitting element 23. Referring to FIG. 3, the switch 25 is implemented as either a press type switch or toggle switch. The button of the switch 25 capable of being pressed, pushed, or pulled is provided on a well of the body 21. Such design of the switch 25 can prevent an undesired consumption of the electrical energy stored in the cell 22 from occurring due to inadvertent contact by a foreign object during the process of manufacturing, packing, or delivering. The body 21 of the light emitting assembly 20 is coupled to one end of the connecting member 30. The other end of the connecting member 30 is fixed to a top inner surface of the bag 10 by heating. As an end, the bag 10 having an internal light emitting device according to the invention is produced. Prior to filling air into the bag 10, the user can press (or push) the button (or the lever) of the switch 25 to electrically connect the cell 22 and the light emitting element 23 together. A light is thus emitted from the light emitting element 23. The user then can fill air into the bag 10 until a predetermined shape of the bag 10 is formed. At this time, the light emitting assembly 20 is supported by the connecting member 30 to suspend in about the center of the bag 10 with light emitted from the light emitting assembly 20.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a second preferred embodiment of the invention. Similar to the first preferred embodiment, a recess 211 is also formed in the body 21 of the light emitting assembly 20. The recess 211 is shaped to fit the cell 22. The cell 22 is electrically coupled to the light emitting element 23 (e.g., bulb or LED) via two contacts 24 (one is shown) at the body 21 and an electric circuit (not shown). In the second preferred embodiment, an insulation member 60 is provided on an inner side of the bag 10. The insulation member 60 is made of plastic material. The insulation member 60 has one end 62 clamped by the cell 22 and either contact 24 and the other end (i.e., coupling end) 61 fixed to the inner side of the bag 10 by heating. A second connecting member 50 opposite to the connecting member 30 is coupled to the light emitting assembly 20. Also, the second connecting member 50 is made of plastic material. The second connecting member 50 has one end coupled to a portion of the light emitting assembly 20 opposite to the light emitting element 23 and the other end 51 fixed to a bottom inner side of the bag 10 similar to the other end 61 of the insulation member 60. The cell 22 and the light emitting assembly 20 are not electrically conducted because the insulation member 60 is disposed therebetween when the bag 10 is not inflated. Once the bag 10 has been inflated to form a predetermined shape, the light emitting assembly 20 will be supported by the connecting members 30 and 50 to suspend in about the center of the bag 10. The insulation member 60 has a shorter length as compared to either connecting member 30 or 50. Hence, one end 62 of the insulation member 60 is disengaged from the contact point between the cell 22 and either contact 24 due to an outward pulling from the other end 61 of the insulation member 60 at the inner side of the bag 10 (see FIG. 5). As such, the cell 22 and the light emitting element 23 are electrically conducted. As a result, the light emitting assembly 20 is supported by the connecting members 30 and 50 to suspend in about the center of the bag 10 with light emitted from the light emitting assembly 20.

[0018] In the second preferred embodiment, as stated above, the other end 61 of the insulation member 60 and the other end 51 of the second connecting member 50 are fixed to the different inner surfaces of the bag 10 respectively by heating. For facilitating this arrangement, preferably, first print ink layers 90 and 80 on the inner surfaces of two thin plastic layers to be formed as bag. The ink layers 90 and 80 are disposed corresponding to the other end 61 of the insulation member 60 and the other end 51 of the second connecting member 50 respectively. After required components have been installed between the thin plastic layers, a sealing on periphery of the thin plastic layers by heating is performed. At the same time, a sealing is performed by heating at positions of the other end 61 of the insulation member 60 and the other end 51 of the second connecting member 50. Thus, the other ends 61 and 51 of the insulation member 60 and the second connecting member 50 are fixed to predetermined inner surfaces of the hollow, airtight bag 10. Hence, once the bag 10 has been inflated to form a predetermined shape, the insulation member 60 will be disengaged from the contact point between the cell 22 and either contact 24 due to an outward pulling from the inner side of the bag 10. As a result, the light emitting assembly 20 is supported by the connecting members 30 and 50 to suspend in about the center of the bag 10 with light emitted from the light emitting assembly 20.

[0019] As to the second preferred embodiment described above, the light emitting assembly 20 may be replaced by the switch 25 shown in FIG. 2. Further, the button of the switch 25 is replaced by a projecting lever (not shown). Thus, one end 62 of the insulation member 60 can be coupled to the lever directly and the other end 61 thereof can be fixed to the inner side of the bag 10 by heating. The cell 22 and the light emitting assembly 20 are not electrically conducted when the bag 10 is not inflated. Once the bag 10 has been inflated to form the predetermined shape, the other end 61 of the insulation member 60, fixed to the inner side of the bag 10, will pull outward to move the lever for electrically connecting the cell 22 and the light emitting element 23 together. As a result, the light emitting assembly 20 is supported by the connecting members 30 and 50 to suspend in about the center of the bag 10 with light emitted from the light emitting assembly 20.

[0020] In brief, the inflatable bag having a light emitting device of the invention has the following advantages: It can emit light in the night or a dark environment for showing specially designed patterns or characters or special shapes printed thereon, thereby greatly increasing the effect of decoration, entertainment, or advertisement. Moreover, in a case that an emergency is happened at a forest, hill, or canyon in the night, a person can first couple the bag to a fixed object by a rop prior to inflating helium into the bag. Next, the bag will rise and float in the air with light continuously emitted therefrom. Hence, other persons at a distance may see a word “help” or any of other help patterns or characters attached on the bag for arranging help immediately. In other words, it can be served as a means for issuing a life saving or emergency signal for help.

[0021] While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An inflatable bag having a device for emitting light comprising: bag means made of a plastic material being hollow, airtight; at least one light emitting assembly disposed in the bag means, each light emitting assembly including a body, at least one cell, and at least one light emitting element both disposed on the body; and a first connecting member made of a plastic material, the first connecting member having one end coupled to the light emitting assembly and the other end fixed to a first portion of the inner surface of the bag means, wherein the cell and the light emitting element are actuable to conduct so that when the bag means has been inflated to a predetermined shape the light emitting assembly will be supported by the first connecting member to suspend in about the center of the bag means with light emitted from the light emitting assembly.
 2. The inflatable bag of claim 1, wherein the plastic material for manufacturing the bag means is transparent.
 3. The inflatable bag of claim 1, wherein the bag means comprises a plurality of specially designed characters or patterns formed thereon by printing and coating.
 4. The inflatable bag of claim 1, further comprising a recess formed in the body, the recess being shaped to fit the cell so that the cell is capable of electrically coupling to the light emitting element via two contacts at the body and an electric circuit.
 5. The inflatable bag of claim 4, further comprising a switch disposed on the electric circuit interconnecting the cell and the light emitting element.
 6. The inflatable bag of claim 5, wherein the switch is disposed on a well of the body, the switch having a button for pressing.
 7. The inflatable bag of claim 4, further comprising: an insulation member made of plastic material having on end clamped by the cell and either contact and the other end fixed to a second portion of the inner surface of the bag means; and at least one second connecting member made of plastic material having one end coupled to a portion of the light emitting assembly opposite to the light emitting element and the other end fixed to a third portion of the inner surface of the bag means, wherein the cell and the light emitting assembly are not electrically conducted due to the intermediate insulation member when the bag means is not inflated, and in response to an inflation to the predetermined shape of the bag means, one end of the insulation member is disengaged from the clamped position between the cell and either contact due to an outward pulling from the other end of the insulation member at the second portion of the inner surface of the bag means, thereby electrically conducted the cell and the light emitting element.
 8. The inflatable bag of claim 5, wherein the switch is disposed on a well of the body, the switch having a projecting lever for moving back or forth.
 9. The inflatable bag of claim 8, further comprising: an insulation member made of plastic material having on end directly coupled to the lever and the other end fixed to a second portion of the inner surface of the bag means; and at least one second connecting member made of plastic material having one end coupled to a portion of the light emitting assembly opposite to the light emitting element and the other end fixed to a third portion of the inner surface of the bag means, wherein the cell and the light emitting assembly are not electrically conducted because the lever is moved to a disconnected position when the bag means is not inflated, and in response to an inflation to the predetermined shape of the bag means, the lever is moved to a connected position due to an outward pulling from the other end of the insulation member at the second portion of the inner surface of the bag means, thereby electrically conducted the cell and the light emitting element. 